John Locke's Personal Identity
opinion Essay
1197 words
Who am I? Various traits may define who one is. What components form an identity? Various components may form an identity. Is a personal identity real? This varies from person to person. Along with everyday people having an opinion, plenty of philosophers do as well. Three different variations of ideas on personal identity that will be covered come from; John Locke, David Hume, and a Buddhist scripture. The theories range from not having a personal identity to considering personal identity to be one’s physical soul. The various theories by the philosophers mentioned above will be analyzed to determine what one’s personal identity could be. To start, John Locke’s beliefs on identity have to do with one’s bodily spirit. More specifically, “The …show more content…
Locke’s statement on identity seems like a legitimate theory to me. From a personal experience, before my grandmother passed away she would tell our family she would return as a butterfly. Sure enough after she died, my family began to see butterflies more often, and we took it as a sign of her soul. While Locke states what one’s personal identity is through their bodily spirit, he does touch upon the physical aspect of being a person as well. Which Locke believes is a being that has the ability to think, reason, reflect and can see the self doing these things in various times and places. Which I agree with but, I feel as though there is much more to a person, a whole being. More than a person having a soul, being able to think, reason, and reflect, I feel a person has more to …show more content…
If I were to live as if life was purely an illusion, I would most likely not take anything seriously. An education, job, or any relationships would be of slim to no importance living life as an illusion. Of course we all die at the end of our lives, nobody beats the game of life and lives forever in bodily form. If one were to view life with the fact, that we all die in the end maybe that individual’s life lacks seriousness. Although I fully understand that nobody comes out of their life alive, I do believe it is important to push oneself to be better, and acquire the best for themselves throughout different aspects of life. If I were to view myself and the world as part of my imagination, I would lack motivation to better myself; I most likely would live overly comfortable with less. Seeing all of this world as an illusion, there would be no use in motivation and determination because, all that is seen would have no meaning. Living life through the eyes of someone who sees themselves and the world as one large illusion would in fact be purposeless. Life is to be lived with purpose, emotions, kinship, and personal
In this essay, the author
- Explains that various traits define who one is, and what components form an identity. john locke, david hume and a buddhist scripture will be covered.
- Opines that john locke's beliefs on identity have to do with one’s bodily spirit, but he does touch upon the physical aspect of being a person.
- Disagrees with hume's statement that the world and all that is within it is a perception, but firmly believes all things have purpose and identity.
- Explains that various traits define who one is, and what components form an identity. john locke, david hume and a buddhist scripture will be covered.
- Opines that john locke's beliefs on identity have to do with one’s bodily spirit, but he does touch upon the physical aspect of being a person.
- Disagrees with hume's statement that the world and all that is within it is a perception, but firmly believes all things have purpose and identity.
- Opines that living as if life was purely an illusion would be purposeless. they believe it is important to push oneself to be better and acquire the best for themselves throughout different aspects of life.
- Explains the beauty of being composed of a physical body and soul: they can be with or without one another. the soul has the ability to be many places while the body is alive or dead.
- Concludes that they agree with john locke on having a personal identity, comprised of the soul, as well as the physical body.
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- Essay On John Lockeanalytical essayIn a state of nature, each man, as the possessor of reason and free will, is cognitively independent and equal, and so, by implication, politically independent and equal (Braman 07). Locke knew that men were there own learning tools within themselves. Not only did they learn from there mistakes, which was known for centuries, but, they also grew from one another and took what they needed for there own well mental development (Braman 09) Just like mankind has been doing for as long as anyone can remember, they have been working there owns ways of life out for themselves and to learn from one another and not from someone or something telling you how you should be living.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that locke wrote a government idea in the 17th century that many people today would think is the idea of fool. he implied the government was intended to be an instrument for the people and they could adjust or change the instrument as needed.
- Analyzes how locke talked about a government that needed to stay out of the lives of people that it was governing.
- Analyzes how locke thought natural rights would work better than the government because it would stop all the control that man had over one another.
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- Analyzes how locke talked about a government that needed to stay out of the lives of people that it was governing.
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- Analyzes how locke aimed to make sure that people were seen in a way that wasn't sinful but as just another person trying to live day by day.
- Analyzes how thomas hobbes had the idea that all mean were wicked and couldn't be under pressure to control themselves.
- Opines that john locke believed in an absolutely monarchy. most people did not like absolutism due to the types of regulations and other rules that the government was already trying to impose.
- Explains that john locke was an english philosopher and physician who was one of the most influential people during the enlightenment era.
- Explains that locke wanted to express the law that the people had moral truths that really did apply to everyone.
- Argues that locke's theory of the state of nature is tied closely to the way he thought about natural law.
- Explains that john locke lived like he didn't care about the government or the rules that they set for the people. he followed the ten commandments to the best of his ability.
- Explains that the higher power tending to think that they had more authority over the people. locke knew this wasn't right, because the only god that had stepped before them to lead them into internal after life.
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- Explains locke's outlook on education was simple. he set four goals for the education outlined in some thoughts concerning education virtue reading and learning.
- Analyzes how locke's theory of punishment is central to his view of politics and part of what he considered about his political philosophy.
- Analyzes how locke maintained that there must be a separation between church and state since the state exists not to enforce public morality, but to protect man's rights from being violated by other men.
- Explains that locke knew that men were there own learning tools within themselves. they grew from one another and took what they needed for their well-mental development.
1554 wordsRead More - John Locke's Theory Of Personal Identityanalytical essayMany can remember a point in their life when they were a small child, carefree and happy with dirt on their knees and a smile on their face, but how can one know that he is the same person now as he was then? This is a question concerning personal identity; which addresses why someone at one point in life is identical with someone later in life. When it comes to personal identity and it’s persistence through time, many theories exist to explain what makes a person a person. One view is John Locke’s theory of personal identity. He stated that identity was not dependent on any material substance, such as one’s body, instead Locke maintained that personal identity is tied to consciousness and perceptions.
In this essay, the author
- Explains john locke's theory of personal identity, stating that identity is not dependent on any material substance, but is tied to consciousness and perceptions.
- Explains john locke's theory of personal identity, which states that if one’s later self can remember his past actions, then he is the same person now.
- Analyzes how locke illustrates the memory criterion through his use of the prince and the cobbler.
- Explains john locke's theory of personal identity, stating that identity is not dependent on any material substance, but is tied to consciousness and perceptions.
- Explains john locke's theory of personal identity, which states that if one’s later self can remember his past actions, then he is the same person now.
- Analyzes how locke illustrates the memory criterion through his use of the prince and the cobbler.
- Analyzes how locke's personal identity argument illustrates that everyone experiences breaks in their conscious thought, whether that be due to sleep, or forgetfulness.
- Argues that locke's theory of persistence of personal identity seems to rely on the fact that humans are who they are, making the argument circular in nature.
- Analyzes locke's theory of personal identity, which solves the problems associated with other theories revolving around bodies and souls, but is not without its own issues.
844 wordsRead More - Locke Personal Identityanalytical essayJohn Locke believes that personal identity is about the human mind that has episodes of overlapping memories occur from how I can explain it based on how I perceived while reading his point of views. Locke considers the self to be really based upon our memory or consciousness and not on the matter of either soul or the body. From what I perceived, I think that on how Locke argued against the soul and body theories of personal identity was that the mind is defined by the experience, the perception and the rumination. But Locke’s main argument regarding personal identity is that personal identity is all about our self-consciousness. In Chapter 6 “Self” of Introducing Philosophy by Solomon, it states, “whose identity is based on the continuity of the body, just as you would say that you have had “the same car” for
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how locke believes that personal identity is about the human mind that has episodes of overlapping memories.
- Opines that they don't agree with locke's statements on how identity remains the same if memory is gone or loss.
- Analyzes how locke believes that personal identity is about the human mind that has episodes of overlapping memories.
- Opines that they don't agree with locke's statements on how identity remains the same if memory is gone or loss.
584 wordsRead More - Personal Identityanalytical essayTo understand Locke’s concept of personal identity it is necessary to understand what he means by identity and what he means specifically by personal identity. Locke states there are three substances that we have ideas of and that have identities. He defines idea in Essay concerning Human Understanding as “whatsoever is the object of the understanding when a man thinks” (Essay, chapter 1, section 8). That is to say that an idea, to Locke, is the basic unit of human thought. Identity is based off of comparison of these ideas in different times and places.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that consciousness is what makes us human, as opposed to rationality. consciousness is the only reason that we have a concept of self.
- Explains that one can only judge personal identity if it is truly based in consciousness and nowhere else. locke uses the example of a prince's soul and his past consciousness with it in an essay on human understanding.
- Explains that a person with retrograde amnesia has no memory of the past and no way of comparing their current state of consciousness with their past state.
- Opines that consciousness is what makes us human, as opposed to rationality. consciousness is the only reason that we have a concept of self.
- Explains that one can only judge personal identity if it is truly based in consciousness and nowhere else. locke uses the example of a prince's soul and his past consciousness with it in an essay on human understanding.
- Explains that a person with retrograde amnesia has no memory of the past and no way of comparing their current state of consciousness with their past state.
- Explains that personal identity relates to the fact that we see ourselves as the same person 5 years ago and as we expect us to be in 10 years.
- Argues that a person is the same because of the fractured nature of his consciousness.
- Argues that locke's answer is that a consciousness is defined by the finite body or mind it is connected to.
- Explains locke's concept of personal identity, which is based on the same principle of continued comparison as the identities of the three substances.
1736 wordsRead More - John Locke's Theory Of Personal Identityanalytical essayThis paper will argue that the philosopher John Locke would have agreed that the human being Karla Faye Tucker should have been executed. I will start by examining the fundamental difference between a human being and a person as forwarded by Locke. In addition, this paper will address what identity over time or what it means to be the same person over a period of time is. I will then show that through Locke's personal opinions, he would have believed that the human being Karla Faye Tucker was the same person who committed the crime 14 years ago and is thus culpable for punishment. A strong objection to my argument however is of Hume's opinion or lack of opinion (account or lack of account) on personal identity. Hume argues that the concept of personal identity is a falsification and that our personal identity is nothing more than a collection of memories which we bundle together as memories. I will counter-argue however that "
In this essay, the author
- Argues that john locke would have agreed that the human being karla faye tucker should have been executed.
- Explains locke's view that a person is an intelligent being that has reason and reflection and can only be considered the same person over time if he or she retains their memories.
- Analyzes locke's view that karla faye tucker was the same person who committed the crime fourteen years ago and is therefore eligible for punishment.
- Argues that john locke would have agreed that the human being karla faye tucker should have been executed.
- Explains locke's view that a person is an intelligent being that has reason and reflection and can only be considered the same person over time if he or she retains their memories.
- Analyzes locke's view that karla faye tucker was the same person who committed the crime fourteen years ago and is therefore eligible for punishment.
- Argues that hume believes that personal identity is a falsification of locke's claim that karla is the same person and can therefore be punished.
- Analyzes hume's argument that the mind is nothing but a bundle of sensations and memories. ayer states that any account of mind in terms of relations between perceptions would be viciously circular.
815 wordsRead More - Personal Identity In The Memento Movieanalytical essayThe personal identity continues to be same since a person is the same rational thing, same self, and thus the personal identity never changes (Strawson, 2014). Locke also suggests that personal identity has to change when the own self-changes and therefore even a little change in the personal identity has to change the self. He also provides an argument that a person cannot question what makes something today to remain the same thing it was a day ago or yesterday because one must specify the kind of thing it was. This is because something might be a piece of plastic but be a sharp utensil and thus suggest that the continuity of consciousness is required for something to remain the same yesterday and today. John Locke also suggests that two different things of a similar type cannot be at the same time at the same place. Therefore, the criteria of the personal identity theory of Locke depends on memory or consciousness remaining the same (Strawson, 2014). This is because provided a person has memory continuity and can remember being the same individual, feeling, thinking, and doing specific things, the individual can remain to be the same person irrespective of bodily
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the memento film presents two different personal identities of leonard shelby after suffering from a memory condition.
- Analyzes locke's personal identity theory, arguing that a person cannot question what makes something today to remain the same because one must specify the kind of thing.
- Analyzes how locke's perception of personal identity is accurate, stating that leonard doesn't have an identity since he cannot remember what happened a couple of minutes ago.
- Analyzes how the memento film presents two different personal identities of leonard shelby after suffering from a memory condition.
- Analyzes locke's personal identity theory, arguing that a person cannot question what makes something today to remain the same because one must specify the kind of thing.
- Analyzes how locke's perception of personal identity is accurate, stating that leonard doesn't have an identity since he cannot remember what happened a couple of minutes ago.
- Analyzes how memento features leonardo shelby, an investigator of insurance claims. he kills one of the drug users while the other escapes leaving him with damage in his brain.
- Compares locke's philosophy of memory continuity and the lack of personal identity in leonardo in memento film.
- Explains that reading natalie: the viewer's cognitive processes and the unreadable in christopher nolan’s memento.
1338 wordsRead More - The Influence Of John Locke On Personal Identityanalytical essayThe concept of personal identity is a central philosophical component to a debate to which many theorists have contributed their theories to. One of the most prominent theories on personal identities was by John Locke, one of the influential theorist in the 17th century.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how locke's understanding of identity led him to claim that identity is not necessarily linked to factors such as our physical state or form, but instead it’s linked with our consciousness.
- Explains that john locke's personal identity theory is a central philosophical component to the debate to which many theorists have contributed their theories.
- Explains that locke's classification of a person is complicated with the addition of the theoretical coined term, forensic conception.
- Analyzes how locke's understanding of identity led him to claim that identity is not necessarily linked to factors such as our physical state or form, but instead it’s linked with our consciousness.
- Explains that john locke's personal identity theory is a central philosophical component to the debate to which many theorists have contributed their theories.
- Explains that locke's classification of a person is complicated with the addition of the theoretical coined term, forensic conception.
- Analyzes how thomas reid undermins locke's theory of personal identity by reminding us of the limitations of human capabilities.
1015 wordsRead More - Personal Identity Essayanalytical essayJohn Locke believed that the mind was a blank slate, shaped by experience, and the two sources of all our ideas were sensations and reflections. Within his theory of identity, Locke separated the idea of a substance, an organism, and a person; each determined by different criteria. The identity of a substance consists in its matter. For example: a mass of atoms is the same throughout time so long as it retains the same atoms, regardless of arrangement. He does not tie t...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the philosophical problem of personal identity pertains to questions that arise about ourselves by virtue of our being persons.
- Argues that locke's theory demands too much of an individual, and that his description of memory and personal identity violates the law of transitivity.
- Analyzes locke's argument that personal identity is defined by memory, which reverses the order of causation. memories are ultimately beyond verification, meaning that memory is fallible to the point where one can have false memories.
- Explains that the philosophical problem of personal identity pertains to questions that arise about ourselves by virtue of our being persons.
- Argues that locke's theory demands too much of an individual, and that his description of memory and personal identity violates the law of transitivity.
- Analyzes locke's argument that personal identity is defined by memory, which reverses the order of causation. memories are ultimately beyond verification, meaning that memory is fallible to the point where one can have false memories.
- Opines that locke's theory of personal identity fails in many ways, but it is significant in the fact that it was the first to separate the individual issue from the larger topic of identity in general.
- Argues that locke's theory of identity is consistent with the idea of purdurentism, which states that consciousness is independent of material substances.
1058 wordsRead More - David Hume's Flaws Surrounding Their Explanations Of The Real Worldcomparative essayHe believed that the mind is a blank sheet and that knowledge comes to us through our senses. His idea of reality was that it was divided up into two categories: primary and secondary qualities. When these objects are in motion, the two properties fuse together. His theory says that the primary qualities are the objective reality and the secondary qualities are the things we experience that allow us to interact with the object. Primary qualities are mind-independent qualities that the physical object themselves have and usually stay the same. For example, mass, density, and weight. They’re not in our minds, they are in the external world. Secondary qualities, according to Locke, are not objectively real and can only be subjectively perceived. These include color, taste, and smell. Secondary qualities appear different at different times and to different people. For example, if a person who has had their hand on the stove puts their hand in room temperature water, the water would feel cool. On the other hand, if another person had their hand in the freezer and put that hand in the same room temperature water, it would feel warm to them. How could the water be both warm and cool at the same time? This shows that secondary qualities are mind dependent because the hotness or coldness does not exist in the water, but rather it is a sensation in our minds produced by the primary qualities of the water. He still believes in an external world. He believes that primary qualities exist external to our
In this essay, the author
- Opines that hume is correct because he explains that the continuity of perception supports objective reality. they also discuss locke and berkeley and the flaws surrounding their explanations of the real world.
- Explains that empiricism is a theory that tries to explain knowledge in terms of sense experience.
- Explains that john locke believed in sensory experience. he believed that the mind is a blank sheet and that knowledge comes to us through our senses.
- Opines that hume is correct because he explains that the continuity of perception supports objective reality. they also discuss locke and berkeley and the flaws surrounding their explanations of the real world.
- Explains that empiricism is a theory that tries to explain knowledge in terms of sense experience.
- Explains that john locke believed in sensory experience. he believed that the mind is a blank sheet and that knowledge comes to us through our senses.
- Disagrees with locke's claim that primary and secondary qualities cannot exist independently of each other.
- Explains that george berkeley rejected the idea of direct realism. he used locke's theory of primary and secondary quality against him.
- Disagrees with berkeley's theory that reality is just mental ideas and my perception of the world and that nothing exists external to my mind.
- Explains that david hume believed that if we did not experience something, we could not successfully imagine it. there must be an objective reality to some extent because we all can agree on how certain things should look.
1440 wordsRead More - The Life and Opinions of Tristam Shandyanalytical essayThe term “identity” is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “blah blah blah”. This concept can be viewed as personal and individual to one’s self, and is distinguished as an umbrella term to attributes such as; consciousness, heritage, name, appearance, and the soul. As Sterne’s novel Tristram Shandy draws influence from John Locke’s An Essay of Human Understanding, in which Locke discusses the origin of personal identity, the individual identity is evidently reflected within the text. The novel demonstrates Sterne’s interpretation of the personal identity through the construction of each of his unique characterisations. Tristram Shandy discusses the concept and origin of the individuality identity both reflecting and opposing Locke’s theory, and therefore should be considered to have more substance than just a “cock and bull story”.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sterne's novel tristram shandy draws inspiration from locke’s an essay of human understanding, in which he discusses the origin of personal identity.
- Analyzes how tristram fictitiously titles his novel the life and opinions of tristam shandy, but he draws more focus on the events involving the supporting characters and surrounding his earlier childhood.
- Analyzes how the accidental obscuration of tristram's nose with dr. slop’s forceps leaves his physical body, and thus personal identity, permanently changed.
- Analyzes how sterne's novel tristram shandy draws inspiration from locke’s an essay of human understanding, in which he discusses the origin of personal identity.
- Analyzes how tristram fictitiously titles his novel the life and opinions of tristam shandy, but he draws more focus on the events involving the supporting characters and surrounding his earlier childhood.
- Analyzes how the accidental obscuration of tristram's nose with dr. slop’s forceps leaves his physical body, and thus personal identity, permanently changed.
- Analyzes how social conditioning restricts the proposition that we are unique in ourselves, as society has constructed our understanding.
- Analyzes how sterne draws influence from locke's theory that individual identity is formed through consciousness and experience, and not upon the soul and body.
- Analyzes how the novel focuses on the characters that surround the protagonist, helping to construct the identity of sterne's character of tristram.
- Analyzes how laurence sterne's own identity was fragmented through the projection of several of his own character identities as his personal identity.
1673 wordsRead More - Locke, Hobbes, Mill, Thoreauanalytical essayFor individual property to exist, there must be a means for individuals to appropriate the things around them. Locke starts out with the idea of the property of person; each person owns his or her own body, and all the labor that they perform with the body. When an individual adds their own labor, their own property, to a foreign object or good, that object becomes their own because they have added their labor. This appropriation of goods does not demand the consent of humankind in general, each person has license to appropriate things in this way by individual initiative.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mill's concept of a tyranny of the majority has come to be accepted by major thinkers. the us congress doesn't necessarily consciously try to oppress the minority.
- Analyzes how mill discusses why silencing opinions hurts humanity. he argues that since human beings are not infallible, they have no authority to decide an issue for all people.
- Explains that hobbes believes human nature is inherently evil and corrupt. to prevent the ensuing chaos, he believes a social contract must be created.
- Analyzes how mill's concept of a tyranny of the majority has come to be accepted by major thinkers. the us congress doesn't necessarily consciously try to oppress the minority.
- Analyzes how mill discusses why silencing opinions hurts humanity. he argues that since human beings are not infallible, they have no authority to decide an issue for all people.
- Explains that hobbes believes human nature is inherently evil and corrupt. to prevent the ensuing chaos, he believes a social contract must be created.
- Argues that locke's analysis of the state of nature includes many assumptions, including the assumption of a system of morality.
- Analyzes thoreau's views on individualism and the duty to rebel against the government.
1432 wordsRead More - John Locke's Property Argumentanalytical essayThe central theme in Locke’s property argument is the natural right to life. Locke, in explaining the natural right to life, said, “every man has property in his own person.” Thus, he argued, the labor that comes out from one’s own body should be one’s own property. One can make a private property when one mixes his own labor with something in “the state that nature has provided.”(2.27) On top of this, Locke adds on that “God has given the world to men in common… to make use of it to the best advantage of life.”(2.26) An Individual does not need an universal
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes john locke's property argument in second treatise of government. he argues that the natural right to life is based on the fact that mankind owns itself.
- Explains locke's three restrictions to the natural right of private property, stating that people have the right to property only when there is enough, and as good, left in common for others.
- Argues that locke's restrictions created loopholes as mankind entered the civil society.
- Analyzes john locke's property argument in second treatise of government. he argues that the natural right to life is based on the fact that mankind owns itself.
- Explains locke's three restrictions to the natural right of private property, stating that people have the right to property only when there is enough, and as good, left in common for others.
- Argues that locke's restrictions created loopholes as mankind entered the civil society.
355 wordsRead More - John Locke Reflection Paperopinion essayJohn Locke stated that the identity of persons was the identity of conscious. What Locke meant by this is even if our body changes our mind doesn’t such as our memory’s. So for example, many people have horror accidents where they lose their arms, fingers or even legs, but either way the memory stays the same therefore they are the same person. Locke focused a lot on memory, he thought that our memory’s made us who we are and if we were to switch brains with someone and our memory were now in their body of another person 's. That the person who held the memory is now the same person they were before they switched bodies. So for example, if I was to break my mother’s favorite vase, then decide I wanted to switch bodies with my brother, but I
In this essay, the author
- Explains locke's view that the identity of persons was conscious, even if our body changes our mind. the example of the prince and the pauper is similar.
- Explains locke's theory that we become who we are based on our first memory, but no one remembers their birth nor the first few years of their life.
- Analyzes michael's thoughts on personal identity: even though our minds are in a different body that does not mean that we are still the same person.
- Explains locke's view that the identity of persons was conscious, even if our body changes our mind. the example of the prince and the pauper is similar.
- Explains locke's theory that we become who we are based on our first memory, but no one remembers their birth nor the first few years of their life.
- Analyzes michael's thoughts on personal identity: even though our minds are in a different body that does not mean that we are still the same person.
- Explains hume's theory that the idea of self does not exist because there is no same version of ourselves from birth to death.
- Opines that if hume was asked whether bill gates and gill bates were the same person, someone new or one of the other would be a new person.
- Opines that locke, michaels, and hume all saw things in a different perspective.
1399 wordsRead More